Teens wait up to two years to seek help for eating disorders

TEENAGERS with eating disorders wait up to two years before seeking treatment because of the stigma attached to the eating disorder, it emerged yesterday.

Launching a CD-ROM to teach teenagers the difference between physical and emotional hunger, Bodywhys chief executive Jennie O’Reilly said most eating disorders start between the ages of 14 and 17 years.

“It is vital that more targeted prevention work is done in Ireland and the most obvious place is within the school setting,” she said.